The Georgian Patriarchate clarified the status of monasteries in the United States and the deprivation of their abbots from the dignity of their monks

The Georgian Patriarchate published an official statement clarifying the canonical status of the monasteries of St. James, St. Nina and Holy Spirit in the United States. The Patriarchate emphasized that the abbots of the monasteries were deprived of their dignity last year, and the institutions themselves are not under the jurisdiction of the Georgian Orthodox Church.

According to Orthodox Times, Bishop Savva (Inchkveli) of North America informed Patriarch Ilia II about the disciplinary penalties imposed. According to the report, the abbots of St. James Monastery in Oklahoma and St. Nina and Holy Spirit Monasteries in Maryland were ejected from the ministry. The abbess of the convent was also dismissed from her position, and the other members of the community were subjected to the epithet of a ban on communion because of «canonical offenses against the Church.»

Despite the sanctions imposed, these individuals continue to present themselves as active abbots and members of stavropegial monasteries of the Georgian Patriarchate. In this regard, the official statement of the Patriarchate emphasizes that the mentioned monasteries are not stavropegial and are not under its canonical administration. These clarifications are intended to prevent the faithful from being misled about the ecclesiastical status of these organizations.